ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Science & Technology
Novel recipe for fabrication of Transparent Conducting Glass can bring down cost of smart windows, touch screens, solar cells
In recent years, the demand of transparent conducting glasses  with high light transparency has tremendously increased due to its wide range of applications in optoelectronic devices such as smart windows, solar cells, touch screen/ touch sensors, and so on.
Recently scientists from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences , Bengaluru an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India have developed a novel recipe for fabrication of TCG which brings down its production cost by 80% compared to tin-doped indium oxide  based technology which is currently in use. Their current work has been published in the journal Materials Chemistry and Physics.
Industrially relevant TCG came up with conducting coatings such as tin-doped indium oxide  with a few hundred nanometres of thicknesses, where significant cost is attached to the slow deposition rates adopted for high-quality films.
The newly fabricated TCG consists of metal mesh on a glass substrate with thin overlayers of metal oxides. The design is attractive as the hybrid electrode possesses the excellent conductive property of the metal mesh  while offering an oxide surface finish for the conductive glass, which makes it relate well with the existing industry requirements based on ITO.
The team lead by Prof. G U Kulkarni, along with his co-workers from CeNS and industrial partner Hind High Vacuum  Pvt. Ltd. have set-up a semi-automated production plant funded by DST-Nanomission in CeNS-Arkavathi campus for production of low-cost TCG.
Dr. Ashutosh K Singh, Scientist-C at CeNS who is working on this project, said, “We are fabricating various prototypes such as transparent heaters, transparent Electromagnetic Interference shields, smart window, etc. based on TCG to showcase its potential applications. Further, these electrodes have been sent out for field tests in various industries and R&D laboratories”.
These TCGs have been exhibited in various prestigious meetings and conferences such as Bengaluru INDIA NANO-2018 & 2020, ICONSAT-2018 & 2020, SPIE-2019, etc. for dissemination and marketing purpose and are also available for onsite testing and validation purposes.
Figure 1  Reduction in the production cost of hybrid electrode wrt. ITO in  with sheet resistance values,  digital image of hybrid transparent electrode demonstrating its transparency and clarity.
Thus, the TCG developed by CeNS have the potential to bring down the overall production cost of devices like smart windows, touch screens, solar cells, and so on due to its low-cost processing cost.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2019.121997
For more details, Dr. Ashutosh K Singh  can be contacted).
Election Commission
Former CEC Shri Sunil Arora joins Board of Advisers for International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 
Shri Sunil Arora, former Chief Election Commissioner of India has been invited to join the Board of Advisers for International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance . Shri Sunil Arora brings rich leadership experience, knowledge and skills to contribute significantly to the working of the International Institute. The Institute is assisted by a 15-member Board of Advisers who are eminent personalities or experts from a wide variety of backgrounds.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance , established in 1995, is an intergovernmental organization based in Stockholm, Sweden with a mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide. International IDEA currently has 34 member countries which include large and small, older and newer democracies from all continents. India has been one of the founding members of IDEA.
Shri Sunil Arora had been the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India from 2nd December 2018 to 12th April, 2021. Shri Arora had joined ECI as Election Commissioner of India on 1st September 2017. During his tenure of more than 42 months at ECI, the Commission successfully conducted the General Election to the 17th Lok Sabha in 2019 and 24 State Assembly Elections as also bye-elections and biennial elections. Shri Arora, a 1980 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, has earlier headed various key departments in the Government of India & State Government of Rajasthan.
Under the leadership of Shri Sunil Arora, ECI provided a big push to its digital program, by creating a unified database of more than 930 million electors & a nationwide helpline 1950. Another tech innovation for aiding Citizens Vigil – a CVigil App has become a great tool which enables citizens in poll bound areas to report cases of Model Code of Conduct violation. Shri Arora’s personal initiative of providing postal ballot facility to senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities to be able to cast their vote from their homes was much appreciated. He also ensured that polling stations were shifted to ground floor with Assured Minimum Facilities to make elections accessible and inclusive. Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot also emerged as a useful facility for service voters to cast their vote from their place of posting.
ECI firmly believes in deepening and strengthening Democracies worldwide through knowledge sharing among Election Management Bodies. While serving as the Chairman of the Association of World Election Bodies  and Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia  under Shri Arora’s tenure, ECI ensured further enhancement of capacity building. An A-WEB Centre has been set up at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, New Delhi for documentation, research and training; for sharing best practices and capacity building among the member EMBs.
Ministry of Finance
6,23,10,598 loans sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana  in FY 2022-23
The objective of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana  is to provide access to institutional finance to new or existing micro unit/ enterprise up to Rs. 10 lakh. This was stated by Union Minister for State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
The Minister also stated the number of loans sanctioned to borrowers under the Scheme in the last two years is as below:
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F.Y. 2021-22
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F.Y. 2022-23
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5,37,95,526
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6,23,10,598
All India data, State-wise and UT-wise is placed at ANNEXURE-I.
The Minister stated that under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana , collateral-free institutional credit up to Rs. 10 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions  i.e. Scheduled Commercial Banks , Non-Banking Financial Companies  and Micro Finance Institutions . Any individual, who is otherwise eligible to take a loan and has a business plan for small business enterprise can avail loan under the Scheme for income generating activities in the manufacturing, trading, service sectors and also for activities allied to agriculture across three loan categories, viz. Shishu , Kishore  and Tarun .
The Minister stated that complaints with regards to implementation of PMMY are redressed in consultation with the respective Banks. The complaints received at the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System  are also being taken up with respective Banks for redressal within the prescribed timeline.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
Paddy Procurement shows increase of 22.88 % over last year
45.92 Lakh Paddy Farmers have benefitted from KMS Procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 75263.52 Crore
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pardesh, Maharashtra and Bihar with purchase of over 398.64 LMTs of paddy up to 16.12.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 324.40 LMT showing an increase of 22.88 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 398.64 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 50.86% of total procurement.
About 45.92 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 75263.52 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 48.11 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 16.12.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 180032.69 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 966.10 Crores benefitting 100012 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 16.12.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 16.12.2020 a quantity of 5380136 cotton bales valuing Rs. 15484.36 Crore has been procured benefitting 1040445 farmers.
Ministry of Power
Government plans to procure 10000 E-Vehicles: Shri R.K. Singh
Contracts awarded, after Open Tender, to Tata Motors Ltd. for 250 e-cars and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. for 150 e-cars
Minister of State  for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Raj Kumar Singh, in a written reply to a question on status of procurement of e-vehicles in the country, in Lok Sabha today informed that Energy Efficiency Services Limited , under Ministry of Power, plans to procure 10000 e-vehicles through demand aggregation. Bids were invited via open tender and under Phase-I and contracts have been awarded to Tata Motors Ltd. for 250 e-cars and M/s Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. for 150 e-cars which includes five years Annual Maintenance Contract .
EESL will provide these vehicles on lease to replace the existing petrol and diesel vehicles taken on lease by various Government organizations and charge lease rent from these organizations, the Minister added.
Ministry of Law and Justice
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Vide notifications of even number dated 05.10.2021, in exercise of the power conferred by clause  of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer the following High Court Judges and to direct them to assume charge of their offices in High Courts where they have been transferred to :-
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Sl.
No.
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Name ofJudge

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TransferfromHigh
Court
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TransfertoHigh
Court
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I
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JaswantSingh
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PunjabandHaryana
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Orissa
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2
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Smt.Sabina
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Rajasthan
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HimachalPradesh
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3
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SanjayaKumarMishra
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Orissa
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Uttarakhand
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4
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ManindraMohanShrivastava
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Chhattisgarh
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Rajasthan
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5
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AhsanuddinAmanullah
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Patna
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AndhraPradesh
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6
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UjjalBhuyan
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Bombay
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Telangana
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7
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PareshR.Upadhyay
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Gujarat
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Madras
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8
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M.S.S.RamachandraRao
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Telangana
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PunjabandHaryana
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9
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ArindamSinha
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Calcutta
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Orissa
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10
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A.M.Badar
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Kerala
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Patna
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11
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YashwantVarma
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Allahabad
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Delhi
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12
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VivekAgarwal
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Allahabad
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MadhyaPradesh
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13
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ChandraDhariSingh
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Allahabad
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Delhi
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14
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AnoopChitkara
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HimachalPradesh
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PunjabandHaryana
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15
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RaviNathTilhari
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Allahabad
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AndhraPradesh
Prime Minister's Office
PM lauds Ojas Praveen Deotale for striking Gold in the Compound Archery
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Ojas Praveen Deotale for winning Gold medal in the Compound Archery Men's Individual event at the Asian Games.
Shri Narendra Modi posted on X :
"Congratulations to Ojas Praveen Deotale for striking Gold in the Compound Archery Men's Individual event at the Asian Games. His precision, determination and unwavering focus have done it again and made our nation proud."
Ministry of Education
Scheme for Poor Students
The Central Government is sensitive to the needs of students belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society and is committed towards ensuring equity in access to higher education.
Under the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship scheme for College and University Students, financial assistance is provided to meritorious students having family income of less than Rs. 6 lakh per annum to meet a part of their day-to-day expenses while pursuing higher studies. Students who are above 80th percentile of successful candidates in the relevant streams from a particular Board of Examination in class XII of 10+2 pattern or equivalent and pursuing regular course and not availing of any other scholarship, are eligible for consideration under this scheme.
Further, under the Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Education Loan interest subsidy is provided to all students belonging to Economically Weaker Section , with an annual parental income up to Rs.4.5 lakhs. The Scheme provides for full interest subsidy during the period of moratorium  on educational loans availed of by all students belonging to EWS from Scheduled Banks, including Co-operative & Regional Rural banks, as per the Model Educational Loan Scheme of Indian Banks' Association.
Also, the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology  has been launched with the objective of making best use of ICT with the purpose of identification and nurturing of talent and life-long learning as well as extending the education facility to a larger section of people.
This information was given by the Minister of State , Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.
Ministry of Defence
INDIAN ARMY SIGNS HISTORIC MoU WITH ELEVEN BANKS FOR AGNIVEER SALARY PACKAGE
The Indian Army has signed historic MoU with 11 Banks viz State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank for providing banking facilities to Agniveers on enrollment. The MoUs were signed by Lt Gen V Sreehari, DG  and senior officials of Banks in a ceremony presided over by Lt Gen C Bansi Ponappa, the Adjutant General of Indian Army on 14 October 2022 .
The features and benefits offered under Agniveer Salary Package are similar to the Defence Salary Package. In addition, the banks have offered soft loans to exiting Agniveers to promote and enhance their entrepreneurial skills. The first batch of Agniveers under “Agnipath Scheme” will be joining Training Centres by January 2023.
Special Service and Features
Circle level ‘DAK ADALAT’ on 8th August, 2022 at Chennai
Tamilnadu Postal Circle, Department of Posts, India will conduct a Circle level ‘DAK ADALAT’ on 11.08.2022  at 1100 hours in Office of the Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Anna Salai, Chennai — 600 002.
Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai — 600 002 and Chairperson of Circle Dak Adalat will hear the grievances of Customers of Postal Department personally and redress their grievances. Customers may send their grievances on Postal Services to Smt. M. Vjayalakshmi, Assistant Director , O/o the Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai — 600 002 on or before 3 T.07.2022. Customers can also send their grievances through email to pg.tn@indiapost.gov.in with the caption DAK ADALAT.
The grievances relating to postal services like delay in transmission of mails, Speed Post articles, Parcels, Money Orders, Savings Bank, Cash Certificates and counter services will be covered.
The grievances regarding disposal of MO / Registered / Speed / VP / Insured articles booked by the customers should contain full details such as, article number, date and office of booking. full address of sender and the addressee. If the grievance is about the Savings Scheme or Postal Life insurance, Account Number, PLI Policy Number, Name and address of the Depositor / lnsurant, Name of the Post office, the details of the recovery and any other reference of the Postal Department, if available, should be furnished.
According to the Press Release issued by Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai — 600 002.
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Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Promotion and demotion of SCs and STs
The Supreme Court in Special Leave Petition  No.30621/2011 has passed the following order on 17.5.2018:-
“It is directed that the pendency of this Special Leave Petition shall not stand in the way of Union of India taking steps for the purpose of promotion from ‘reserved to reserved’ and ‘unreserved to unreserved’ and also in the matter of promotion on merits..”.
Further, in the matter related to Special Leave Petition  No.31288/2017 connected to Special Leave to Appeal  No.28306/2017, the Supreme Court held as under on 05.06.2018:-
“Heard learned counsel for the parties, Learned ASG has referred to order dated 17.05.2018 in SLP No.30621/2011. It is made clear that the Union of India is not debarred from making promotions in accordance with law, subject to further orders, pending further consideration of the matter. Tag to SLP  No.30621 of 2011.”
Based on interim Orders/directions of the Supreme Court dated 17.05.2018 and 05.6.2018, Department of Personnel and Training vide Office Memorandum No. 36012/11/2016- Estt. {Pt-II} dated 15.06.2018 requested all the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India to carry out promotions in accordance with above directions of the Supreme Court on existing seniority / select lists subject to further orders which may be passed by the Supreme Court. The State Governments were advised to take necessary action in accordance with the above-mentioned orders passed by the Supreme Court.
The respective cadre controlling authorities carry out promotions and data on persons promoted, etc. are maintained by them.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Amendments in EPA, 1986
The Environment  Act, 1986 was enacted to provide for the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith. As per the said Act, the “environment” includes water, air and land and the inter- relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property.
A Committee had been constituted under Shri T.S.R. Subramanian to review the Acts administered by the Ministry and to suggest appropriate amendments to bring them in line with their objectives and current requirements. The T.S.R. Subramanian Committee Report was reviewed by the Parliament Standing Committee on Science & Technology, chaired by the then Hon’ble M.P., Rajya Sabha, Shri Ashwani Kumar, in the year 2015. The Committee was of the view that the period of three months allotted to the High Level Committee for reviewing the six environmental Acts was too short and therefore inter-alia recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, instead of proceeding with the implementation of the recommendations contained in HLC should give due consideration to the views/opinion and objections raised.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Nationwide Meri Maati Mera Desh Campaign launched today
Nehru Yuva Kendra, Hyderabad organised Meri Maati Mera Desh Campaign in Government Degree College for Women, Begumpet
The nationwideMeri Maati Mera Desh- Mitti Ko Naman, Veeron ko VandhanCampaign launched today to pay tribute to the Bravehearts who laid down their lives for the country. The campaign will continue till the 30th of this month. It will include programmes at national, state, village and block levels as well as local urban bodies. The campaign will feature programmes like the establishment of memorial plaques or Shilaphalakams dedicated to freedom fighters and security forces, as well as initiatives like the Panch Pran Pledge, Vasudha Vandan, Veeron ka Vandan which venerates the gallant sacrifices of Bravehearts.
As part of the nationwide campaign, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Hyderabad organised Meri Matti Mera Desh - Mitti Ko Naman, Veeron ko Vandhan in Government Degree College For Women, Begumpet today. On this occasion Sri A K Pandey, Assistant Commandant, CRPF Chandrayangutta, Sri Deepak, Assistant Commandant, CRPF and Sri Vinayaka Pandurangam, Havaldar were felicitated. Smt. T. Maheswari, Corporator, GHMC, Faculty and students of the college participated in the campaign. The dignitaries and the students planted saplings and took Panch Pran Pledge as part of the campaign.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
174.24 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 3,32,918
Active cases stand at 0.78%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.03%
67,538 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 4,19,10,984
30,757 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
75.55 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 11,79,705 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Imports From Russia And Ukraine
The effect of the war on exports/imports from Russia and Ukraine can be assessed only after the situation stabilizes. The value of exports and imports from Russia and Ukraine are as given below:
Value in USD Million
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Russia
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Ukraine
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Year
|
|
Export
|
|
Import
|
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Total Trade
|
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Export
|
|
Import
|
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Total Trade
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|
2020-21
|
|
2,655.52
|
|
5,485.75
|
|
8,141.27
|
|
450.97
|
|
2,139.86
|
|
2,590.83
|
|
Apr-Feb 2021-22
|
|
3,180.36
|
|
8,688.96
|
|
11,869.32
|
|
466.76
|
|
2,624.48
|
|
3,091.24
This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Meri Maati Mera Desh Anthem resonates deeply with every Indian’s heart: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised the Meri Maati Mera Desh Anthem.
He posted on X
"#MeriMaatiMeraDesh Anthem resonates deeply with every Indian’s heart, reminding us of the sacrifices made for our beloved nation. Let us all make this movement a success, which will inspire the coming generations."